What hardware to choose for SW2008SP4

[Noxitec]

Hi,

First a brief history how I became a designer in SW:

As drawing in autocad started as a hobby I got the chance to become a designer in the company I work. (they went pen and paper to drawing on pc). We bought Solidworks an I took several courses in SW. Everything OK. A few months later the company desided to close the division for who I made the drawing (custom build automated machines for the food industrie). So no more drawing and useless program (SW).
So I made deal with the boss: I rent the program and started as an indpendent designer (after the normal houres in my daytime job).

This second job runs like a train! lots of projects.

Not having as large budget to start with I invested in a new PC. Its a custombuild machine (Asus high end MB, 4gig ram, WD raptor HD, Intel duo E6850 3GHZ processor, nVidia quadro FX540, Astroid 3000 3D-mouse, WinXP sp3, SW2008SP4). Nice an fast machine at first.

Now I'm getting some bigger and more complicated projects and I'm confrontated with some problems. The PC chokes on rebuilds of certain drawings. I am sure that the problem is caused by the "cheap" FX540.

Now the questions (finally !):

1. In what should I invest some more € ? In a new graphic card. If yes, witch one. more RAMs?

2. Is there anyone else who uses the astroid 3000 3Dmouse? Works fine but impossible to customize the buttons on it. Any advise.


Noxi
SW2008SP4

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

1) If you are running a x32 system, adding more RAM will not help ... but enabling the /3GB switch should. A better card should also show some improvement. (FX1700 or FX3700).
Is it just the size of the drawing files which causes the problem, or are the component models complex (helices, patterns, sweeps, etc).

2) I've never used the Astroid.

 

[Noxitec]

-Yep, it's still the 32 version of winxp. I'm thinking of changeing to 64. That would be the first step.
-The /3GB switch is enabled.
-I don't think it's the size. The components with the most troubles are indeed parts and assemblies wich contain helices in circular patterns.

Is it worth the money to buy the fx3700 over the fx1700??

As I read in other topics, there could be issues with winXP service pack 3 to. Since I upgraded to SP3 there are more errors then before.

Noxi
SW2008SP4

 

[smcadman]

Depending on what driver you are using, your card passes but I couldn't tell you how much faster your system would be with a higher-end card. (cost to speed ratio?)

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/videocardtesting.html

Since SW recommends setting your **virtual ram to twice the physical ram, set the "maximum size" to be twice the physical ram rather than having a "system managed size". Some recommend setting the initial size to 1.5 or twice the physical ram also, but my system get's a little unstable if I set it to twice the ram.

Windows System Properties > Advanced tab > Performance Settings > Advanced Tab > Virtual Memory Change > Custom size checkbox.

**Ram:

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/SystemRequirements.html

Flores

 

[ctopher]

Also, see the "FAQs" here at the top of this thread.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)